Grove Street

Grove Street is an iconic street in Compton, California, located in the middle of the neighborhood. The street was the base of operations for the Grove Street Families set of The Families gang, as well as the home of GSF leaders Sweet Johnson, Carl Johnson, Ryder Wilson, and Big Smoke and rapper OG Loc. During the 1980s and 1990s, the street came under frequent attack from the Ballas during the Ballas-Grove Street feud, and Grove Street was once taken over by the Ballas in 1992. However, the street was reclaimed by the GSF after Sweet Johnson's return from prison and Carl Johnson's return to Los Angeles, and Grove Street was used as a base for expanding into other districts such as nearby Inglewood. By 2013, Grove Street was back in Ballas hands, and it was one of the most gang-populated districts in Los Angeles County. Several shootings occurred in the area whenever Families members intruded on Ballas turf.